Friday, March 1, 2013

Best Bloody Marys in St. Louis: A Roundup

People keep telling Gut Check that bloody marys are to be consumed during the morning and early afternoon hours only. They are not an evening drink.

Well Gut Check says whatevs. We drink bloody marys any and all times of day or night. And in our quest to provide you, our dear readers, with the best recommendations in town, we have tried bloody marys across the city to find the best of the best. Also, we just wanted to have an excuse to drink them after 5 p.m.

Here is our list of the best bloody marys in town, along with individual superlatives for each. If you think you know of a better one, though, by all means. Holla at us.

Best Bloody Mary BarBarrister's(15 North Meramec Avenue, Clayton; 314-726-5007)
On Fridays and Saturdays, Barrister's makes a mean brunch. And what goes better with brunch than a bloody mary? Or five? Barrister's offers a fantastic create-your-own bloody mary bar complete with a mix made by owner Jason Tilford. It's thick and tomato-y and not spicy at all, so feel free to add your own with one of the 25 hot sauces available for your enjoyment. There are also five kinds of stuffed olives and pickled green beans and okra made in house. So have fun! Be creative! Only you are the master of your own bloody mary.

Kaitlin Steinberg

Spiciest Bloody MarySub Zero Vodka Bar(308 North Euclid Avenue; 314-367-1200)
Of course Sub Zero vodka bar knows how to make a bloody mary. With seven different varieties, there's one to suit every taste, but trust us, the "Pepper-Infused Bloody Mary" is the way to go. Sub Zero infuses the vodka with a combination of jalapeños, habaneros and bell peppers for a perfectly spicy jolt of booze. Order it with some food to cut the spice, unless you're a total badass. (Note: We will judge you if you can't handle it.)